Transcontinential Insomnia

I have been slacking on the blog a bit so I'll try to get caught up quickly. More to come this weekend:

- I had a great few days in NYC but going halfway around the world and back in four days takes it's toll. Pair that with the fact that tomorrow we deliver the biggest piece of this project and I am about as exhausted as I have ever been in my life. Plus, my body is so confused it doesn't know when to sleep

- On a related note, while I plan to continue searching for a city that compares, NYC is in a class of its own

- Tomorrow night I am heading to Beirut. I have a lot of work to do and doubt I'll do much site seeing, but it's supposed to be a really hip city with a lively restaurant and bar scene. Not a bad place to unwind for a few days...

- Israel's actions yesterday may just have ruined my chances of going to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv next weekend. I'll continue to follow it but trying to talk my way around a passport stamp was going to be hard enough...now it might be near impossible. Bar Refaeli is going to be crushed if I don't come. We'll see what happens this week, but she might just have to get over it. Perhaps Syria or Dubai on next weekend?

- I meant to post this yesterday...but after having the drastic contrast of a few days in the States and then right back to Saudi this seemed particularly pertinent to me. Few - if any - days mean more to our country than Memorial Day. So, on the day after Memorial Day, click through this article...

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/07/02/the_least_free_places_on_earth

...and feel a) lucky that you are from the freest place on earth, and b) blessed that there are men and women who have given - and continue to risk - their lives to keep it that way.